Jammu: In a poignant display of grief and demand for justice, the family of Bachan Dass, a daily wager, protested by placing his body in the middle of the road at Arji in Samba district, Jammu region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The demonstration aimed to highlight alleged harassment by senior officials of the Jal Shakti Department.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Dass, who was a resident of Arji Samba, passed away in a hospital after enduring prolonged harassment by his superiors at the Jal Shakti Department. The department reportedly withheld his wages and compelled him to continue working despite his deteriorating health due to an undisclosed illness. His family claims that the lack of timely salary payments prevented them from affording necessary medical treatment, exacerbating his condition.

During the protest at the Samba Sumb Matador Stand Chowk, the family refused to proceed with the last rites, insisting that their grievances be addressed first. They demanded that the officials responsible be held accountable and sought compensation for their loss.

The protest not only disrupted traffic but also shed light on the alleged mistreatment and neglect by the Jal Shakti Department towards its lower-tier employees.

The family’s bold act has attracted attention to their plight and has sparked conversations around the treatment of daily wage workers by governmental departments.